Vericut Force Optimization

[JParis]

Is anyone using the Force Optimization module?

I am curious, once you have your machining parameters set, do the resultant changes actually work at the machine?

Do you find yourself having to turn things back down?

Does it work not only on the screen but in reality at the machine?

It is not a cheap module and I want to get some real world thoughts.

[crazy^millman]

A few times and it has lived up to what it says it can do. I cannot answer all your questions and yes the price is lofty why I don't have it, but we have customers who do and they are happy with it.

[David Colin]

I only could test it for a few days and on a titanium part. That worked pretty good with conventional roughing toolpaths and semi finishing toolpaths with ball cutters when tool engagement can go from buried tool to light chip. I couldn't compare tool life enhancements but we could gain more than 20% in time.

However i noticed it worked not that good with high feed end mills (like 7792 Kennametal). it probably didn't take into account low tool cutting edge angle and chip thinning on subsequent passes. No issue with facing toolpath but in a pocket, as soon as tool edge upper radius of the tool is buried in material along a wall, Vericut Force slowed it all detecting a difficult machining. 

Another issue I got was with finishing toolpaths, sometimes it could increase dramatically feed detecting low cutting force but downgrading roughness. 

It's funny, I'm going to French VUE tomorrow, perhaps there are software improvements coming!

[alexlikesyou]

We have Force and it actually works really well but there is quite a bit of dialing in.  Ball mills require the most tweaking from my experience so far.  Trying to balance all the settings so you don't hit light speed as it approaches the tip or drop to 1 ipm can be tricky depending on your application.  On some of the big screws i've used it on it drives hours out of machining time.  On the last big Inconel screw I used it on that translated to eliminating an entire shift.

The charts and all the information they provide are very useful too.  I'm a sucker for a good chart.

[GoetzInd]

We have it and use it extensively. If you want to discuss, shoot me a PM and I'll give you my contact info.

MIke 

[meshow_40]

I've never used the Vericut Module but we use Production Module by ThirdWave Systems here and it works quite well (more so on Fanuc machines, a bit of a pain for Seimens controlled machines without additional cost).  Pricey but pays for itself especially if you have medium/high volume production.

Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.

 

[JParis]

Thanks to all, I am really honed in on the Vericut product at this point.

 

[Tim Johnson]

Is Force always on or can you use it intermittently throughout the program file? Does it work with drilling?

[JParis]

2 hours ago, Tim Johnson said:

Is Force always on or can you use it intermittently throughout the program file? Does it work with drilling?

You can pick & choose which tools to apply it to...and yes, it can do drilling.

 

[JParis]

@GoetzInd thanks again for talking with me last week.

We did purchase Vericut simulation & Force Optimization.